Obaseki moves to check multiple taxation, boost revenue

Edo state government on Thursday took towards checking what it called the worrisome cases of multiple taxation in the state as the governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, received the report on a bill on uniform and harmonised levies, rates and fees from the committee headed by his deputy, Rt Hon Phillip Shaibu.
The executive bill titled “A Bill for the Edo State Local Governments Uniform and Harmonised Levies, Rates, Fees and Charges Law, 2017 is expected to finally put to rest the issue of multiple taxation which has been a source of concern to the state government. On implementation, the law is also expected to boost the revenue of the local governments.
A statement from the Chief Press Secretary, office of the deputy governor, Mr. Ebomhiana Musa, said Obaseki, who was obviously elated with the level of seriousness deployed by the committee that worked all day to submit its report in record time, assured that the days of multiple taxation and levies in the state were over, adding that government would do the needful to make sure the bill gets to the state house of assembly in good time. He said government was determined to make sure the issue of multiple taxation which has been a source of embarrassment to the state government was finally put to rest.
Obaseki swiftly assented to the bill for onward transmission to the house of assembly for necessary legislative action. He said the committee was not done yet with its assignment, charging it to work out the modality for its implementation before it becomes law in view of the fact that most of the local governments are rural based. He also said that the technology platform that would make for the efficient collection of the revenue must also be properly worked out by the committee.
Other members of the committee are the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Barr Osarodion Ogie, Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, Deputy chief of Staff, office of the deputy governor, Barr Kingsley Ehigiamusor, Permanent Secretaries, Office of the deputy governor and ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs and Head of Local Governments Administration, HOLGAs, representing the three senatorial zones of the state.